CHAPTER XIV

never,inallmylife,metwithsuchanabjectthingassheis.SheevendisgracesthenameofLintonandI’vesometimesrelented,frompurelackofinvention,inmyexperimentsonwhatshecouldendure,andstillcreepshamefullycringingback!Buttellhim,also,tosethisfraternalandmagisterialheartatease:thatIkeepstrictlywithinthelimitsofthelaw.Ihaveavoided,uptothisperiod,givinghertheslightestrighttoclaimaseparationand,what’smore,she’dthanknobodyfordividingus.Ifshedesiredtogo,shemight:thenuisanceofherpresenceoutweighsthegratificationtobederivedfromtormentingher!” “Mr.Heathcliff,”saidI,“thisisthetalkofamadmanyourwife,mostlikely,isconvincedyouaremadand,forthatreason,shehasbornewithyouhitherto:butnowthatyousayshemaygo,she’lldoubtlessavailherselfofthepermission.Youarenotsobewitched,ma’am,areyou,astoremainwithhimofyourownaccord?” “Takecare,Ellen!”answeredIsabella,hereyessparklingirefullytherewasnomisdoubtingbytheirexpressionthefullsuccessofherpartner’sendeavourstomakehimselfdetested.“Don’tputfaithinasinglewordhespeaks.He’salyingfiend!amonster,andnotahumanbeing!I’vebeentoldImightleavehimbeforeandI’vemadetheattempt,butIdarenotrepeatit!Only,Ellen,promiseyou’llnotmentionasyllableofhisinfamousconversationtomybrotherorCatherine.Whateverhemaypretend,hewishestoprovokeEdgartodesperation:hesayshehasmarriedmeonpurposetoobtainpoweroverhimandhesha’n’tobtainit—I’lldiefirst!Ijusthope,Ipray,thathemayforgethisdiabolicalprudenceandkillme!ThesinglepleasureIcanimagineistodie,ortoseehimdead!” “There—thatwilldoforthepresent!”saidHeathcliff.“Ifyouarecalleduponinacourtoflaw,you’llrememberherlanguage,Nelly!Andtakeagoodlookatthatcountenance:she’snearthepointwhichwouldsuitme.Noyou’renotfittobeyourownguardian,Isabella,nowandI,beingyourlegalprotector,mustretainyouinmycustody,howeverdistastefultheobligationmaybe.GoupstairsIhavesomethingtosaytoEllenDeaninprivate.That’snottheway:upstairs,Itellyou!Why,thisistheroadupstairs,child!” Heseized,andthrustherfromtheroomandreturnedmuttering—“Ihavenopity!Ihavenopity!Themorethewormswrithe,themoreIyearntocrushouttheirentrails!ItisamoralteethingandIgrindwithgreaterenergyinproportiontotheincreaseofpain.” “Doyouunderstandwhatthewordpitymeans?”Isaid,hasteningtoresumemybonnet.“Didyoueverfeelatouchofitinyourlife?” “Putthatdown!”heinterrupted,perceivingmyintentiontodepart.“Youarenotgoingyet.Comeherenow,Nelly:ImusteitherpersuadeorcompelyoutoaidmeinfulfillingmydeterminationtoseeCatherine,andthatwithoutdelay.IswearthatImeditatenoharm:Idon’tdesiretocauseanydisturbance,ortoexasperateorinsultMr.LintonIonlywishtohearfromherselfhowsheis,andwhyshehasbeenillandtoaskifanythingthatIcoulddowouldbeofusetoher.LastnightIwasintheGrangegardensixhours,andI’llreturnthereto-nightandeverynightI’llhaunttheplace,andeveryday,tillIfindanopportunityofentering.IfEdgarLintonmeetsme,Ishallnothesitatetoknockhimdown,andgivehimenoughtoinsurehisquiescencewhileIstay.Ifhisservantsopposeme,Ishallthreatenthemoffwiththesepistols.Butwouldn’titbebettertopreventmycomingincontactwiththem,ortheirmaster?Andyoucoulddoitsoeasily.I’dwarnyouwhenIcame,andthenyoumight